A day of anticipation

Mrs Elizabeth Campbell

Never being on a bus for nearly twenty five years, twelve of these years I was driving until my hands became so bad with arthritis, then my callipers were taken from me which made me wheelchair bound. Therefore I had to rely on my husband or friends to take me out either by car or taxi.

In November 2007 my friend Kathy said "Betty how would you like to go into town today by bus?"

In shock horror I looked at her, and replied "How can I do that?"

"I don't think it should be a problem. Didn't you know that some buses have wheelchair access and there is a rise and fall on the platform, a ram and a space for wheelchair, providing there is isn't a pram already on?"

"Honestly I must see this. In fact I haven't heard of any buses like that."

"Tell you what, why don't we give it a try, and if you don't feel comfortable with me getting you on and off the bus then on the way back we will take a taxi."

After some thought I said, "Okay let's give it a go."

Setting out that afternoon, I was both excited and apprehensive about my first journey. While waiting at the bus stop chatting away nervously I discovered why the kerb was raised and Kathy explained to me that you had to have the right fare as no change was given. I could see the bus coming and realised that the first part of my escapade was about to begin. Getting on the bus and into the wheelchair space wasn't as bad as I first thought it might have been, thanking a woman for moving to let me in. then it dawned on me that there was no conductor. As I settled down looking around me the apprehension began to vanish and I began to enjoy the journey looking out the window of each end without straining my neck, and was quite shocked when complete strangers spoke to me as they were alighting from the bus. I was fascinated seeing places I haven't seen in a very long time. There were so many changes in the traffic system, one-way streets, the different bus companies, the help of some of the drivers as well as the passengers, also how far you were able to travel by bus with the travel ticket without watching the meter on the taxi. I was like a child with a new toy. When Karen told me to press the button as the next stop was ours, I couldn't believe my ears when a buzzer went off instead of the bell. Well my first trip on the bus was over after twenty five years.

"How do you feel? Do you trust me enough to take you back home that way or do you want to go back by taxi?"

"No fear, you have opened up a whole new outlook for me and I intend to make the most of it!"

Kathy takes me on the bus two or three times a week and it is even better now I have my travel pass. I look forward to going into town. My next ambition is to try out the train, then pluck up the courage to travel on the bus by myself and give poor Kathy a break.